We want to preface this article by saying, if you’re every craving ramen, you should definitely just stop by Noodle Bar PHX. We’ll make the perfect bowl for you any time. But we know some of you want to know how you can create a good bowl of ramen without leaving your home. Because we love to encourage creativity and innovation, we created a list of must haves for you.
Besides the noodles themselves, the seasoning of the broth is essential to get the perfect ramen you’re looking for. There are many ways you can personalize the taste of your bowl with your favorite seasonings, but here is a short list of the most popular seasonings you should always have on hand.
Togarashi
Togarashi is a Japanese chili powder that typically comes in either ichimi or shichimi. Ichimi togarashi is nothing more than ground hot roasted chili, but shichimi (or nanami) togarashi is a blend made with chili, dried orange peel, sesame seed, nori, hemp, sansho pepper and ginger. While there’s no rule saying you can’t add these in while you’re making ramen, most people tend to sprinkle in togarashi when they sit down to eat their ramen, not during the process of making it.
Sansho Pepper
This seasoning is the Japanese version of Sichuan peppercorns from China. These peppers are slightly deceptive as they’re small and look much like regular pepper. But this seasoning that has the power to make your tongue tingle, so just be sure when you’re adding this to your ramen, start lightly!
Sesame Seed
This one should be a staple in any kitchen, but especially if you’re making different types of Asian dishes, definitely keep sesame seeds close! These small, white seeds work particularly well with the nutty flavor of miso ramen. They can be used as whole seeds or finely ground up before they’re added. Either way, this is basically a must have.
Curry Powder
This is one of the seasonings you’ll want to add while you’re making your ramen broth, before you add in your noodles. It adds body and spice to the broth that will elevate the entire experience. While it’s up to you to decide what kind of curry you want to add, we recommend using Japanese curry rather than standard Indian curry because it was made to work perfectly with the Japanese palate.
Beyond that, let your creativity flow! Some seasoning will make it taste incredible, some will make it taste terrible, but that’s all part of the fun!